[Preoperative autologous blood donation in orthognathic surgery]

To minimize the perioperative risk of transfusion-associated complications, preoperative autologous blood donation is routinely performed in orthognathic surgery. This study critically analyzed the necessity of this procedure with respect to clinical, economic, and juridical issues.

In the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bonn Medical School, 178 orthognathic surgical procedures were performed from 1994 to 2002. All patients (women, n=101; men, n=77) were informed about the possibility of autologous blood donation. This procedure was carried out in 83%, for single jaw surgery two and for bimaxillary osteotomies three to four units of packed red blood cells were predeposited. Of the patients, 99 underwent monognathic surgery in the lower jaw, 27 patients in the upper jaw, and bimaxillary osteotomy was performed in 52 patients.

The average blood loss for the monognathic procedure in the lower jaw was 756 ml, in the upper jaw 858 ml, and in double jaw surgery 1391 ml. In 13 patients the hemoglobin concentration fell below 7.5 g/dl and 12 patients received their predeposited autologous blood units. A total of 57.7% of all donated autologous blood units were discarded.

Autologous blood donation should be performed from the medical point of view for double jaw surgery and considered in single cases with special risks in monomaxillary osteotomies.